What is Scientology?
FILING INFORMATION:
2002062
Subject: fringe religions; scientology
Preached Originally: 12/8/02 – Rapid City, SD
Introduction:
A.
Been talking
about fringe religions over last few weeks.
1.
New Age Movement
& Biblical Response to New Age Movement.
2.
Another religion
that is organized and is somewhat similar, but not totally, is scientology.
B.
Accessing the
official church of Scientology website this week, I found out some generic info
about the religion and will share this with you in the introduction.
C.
Claims to be the
only new major religion in the 20th century.
1.
Founded in 1954
by L. Ron Hubbard. (1911-1986) Now
spans the globe.
2.
3000 scientology
churches in 133 countries.
D.
Claim to be
interested in social issues/social reform & justice.
1.
Drug abuse rehab
2.
working to reduce
crime & moral decay.
E.
Theological
claims:
1.
To provide exact
principles and a practical technology for improving spiritual awareness; self
confidence; intelligence; and ability.
2.
The word
Scientology comes from the Latin word scio, meaning “know” and the Greek
word logos, meaning “the word or outward form by which the inward
thought is expressed and made known.” Thus, Scientology means knowing about
knowing.
3.
Scientology comprises a body of knowledge which extends from
certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:
a)
Man is an immortal spiritual being.
b)
His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime.
c)
His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently
realized.
4.
Scientology further holds man to be basically good, and that
his spiritual salvation depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment
of brotherhood with the universe.
5.
Scientology is not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked
to believe anything on faith.
a)
An individual
discovers for himself that Scientology works by applying its principles and
observing or experiencing the results.
b)
The ultimate goal of Scientology is true spiritual
enlightenment and freedom for the individual.
I.
“The modern science of mental health” or Dianetics.
A.
This is a science of the mind and became a self-help therapy
that was developed after WWII.
B.
Dianetic theory teaches the mind is composed of mental image
pictures of every event in a person’s life.
1.
memories or “pictures” of painful events from the past
containing pain or unconsciousness are known as “engrams.”
2.
By recalling and “erasing” these memories, a person can be
restored to perfect physical and mental health and analytical functioning.
C.
It is the purpose of Scientology to “clear” the planet.
D.
Hubbard also “discovered” that in order to be truly clear
– a person had to erase all the engrams from his hundreds of past lives.
1.
sooner or later, most people in scientology claim to be able
to remember their past lives.
2.
Their official statement on reincarnation is: Today in Scientology, many people have
certainty that they have lived lives prior to their current one. These are
referred to as past lives, not reincarnation.
3.
Past lives is not a dogma in Scientology, but generally
Scientologists, during their auditing, experience a past life and then know for
themselves that they have lived before.
a)
To believe one had a physical or other existence prior to
the identity of the current body is not a new concept—but it is an
exciting one.
b)
In Scientology, one is given the tools to handle the upsets
and aberrations from past lives that adversely affect one in present time, thus
freeing one to live a much happier life.
II. The
“Thetan.”
A.
Scientology teaches a person is actually an invisible entity
similar to the soul in Christianity. This entity is known as a “thetan.”
B.
As the “thetan” is relieved of his many engrams – he
will regain the many godlike powers that are inherently his. Such as:
1.
telepathy
2.
“exteriorization” i.e., the ability to separate from the
body with full perception.
3.
telekinesis – the ability to move objects with
thought.
C.
Scientology teaches:
1.
we were once godlike – but we have deteriorated over
time.
D.
Promise of this religion: through scientology counseling called “auditing” the person
can regain these godlike abilities.
E.
A thetan that has been restored to a godlike state is known
as an “operating thetan” or OT. People spend huge fees – up to $1000/hr – to attain exalted
state of OT.
1.
Newsweek, 1991 – former member said “it was the only
church she had seen with a cashier booth.”
III. Other
points you need to know about this religion:
A.
Death is known as “dropping the body.”
1.
when a person dies he has been preprogrammed to “return” to
an “implant station” in space.
2.
In the implant station, thetan has all memories from most
recent lifetime erased electronically – then the thetan sent back to
earth to “pick up a new body” or start another life.
B.
Scientology promises that with auditing – a person can
erase this return command so he will never have to return to an implant station
after death.
1.
He will be a free being.
2.
Able to drop his body and pick up a new body w/full
consciousness and self determinism.
C.
Scientologists believe they are very ancient beings –
with memories that reach millions of years into the past.
1.
They are inherently immortal once the impediments to
immorality – the engrams – have been erased.
2.
In essence, they believe they can become gods.
D.
What is the basis of their beliefs? The official website says:
1.
the writings and recorded spoken words of LRH on the subject
of scientology collectively constitute the Scripture of the religion. He set forth the philosophies and
technologies in more than 500,000 pages of writing; books; 2000 tape recorded
lectures.
E.
Who subscribes to this religion today?
1.
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood such as:
2.
Tom Cruise, Nicole
Kidman, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Anne Archer, Juliette Lewis,
Kelly Preston, John Travolta, Mimi Rogers, Karen Black, and Kirstie Alley.
IV. LRH’s
comments on Christianity:
A.
There is no more overrated quality in existence than faith.
B.
Christianity is nothing more than a religious system built
on the behavior of the mentally ill.
C.
The whole Christian movement is based on the victim. They won by appealing to victims. We can win by converting victims. Christianity succeeded by making people
into victims – we can succeed by making victims into people.
D.
Hubbard said Christians believe in the wrong kind of heaven
– that heaven is a betrayal. Heaven is a false dream…
E.
Neither Lord Buddha nor Jesus Christ were OTs according to
evidence. They were just a shade
above “clear.”
1.
OTs are scientology’s highest level – and clears are
the next lower rung.
2.
Scientology technology transforms people into “clears” by
the thousands – all who now claim to be equal to Jesus.
3.
Scientology claims to be able to create gods.
V. This is total blasphemy. A comparison between it &
Christianity:
A.
source of scientology’s authority: LRH.
1.
Christianity – the word of God. The Bible. It is the standard by which all claims have to be measured.
2.
2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Thess. 2:13; John 17:17
B.
God
1.
God is not essential to this religion.
2.
God is the Father; the great I AM; the Creator; all knowing;
all powerful.
C.
Jesus.
1.
Jesus is not a central part to its teaching.
2.
Compare John 3:16; Acts 2:36; 1 Cor. 15:3-4
D.
Salvation
1.
man is basically good, but engrams prevent him from reaching
full potential. When released from
this – man begins to live on a higher level.
2.
Scriptures: man
is saved from sin & given new life through faith in Christ. See Eph. 2:1-10.
Conclusion:
A.
There is nothing in Scientology for the Christian.
B.
It is a doctrine of the devil. Those who practice it are lost forever. They are dead in their trespasses and
sin. Eph. 2:1.
1.
They are being ruled by the principalities and powers of
this world. Eph. 6:10-13.
2.
Must be aware of this, and stand against it.
C. I N V I T A T I O N